Cubs (Horton) vs Nationals (Trevor Williams): 6/3/25, 5:45pm

[DYMNO]

Nico is so freakin’ clutch. 

[Derwood]

Who needs homeruns when you're basically a softball slap hitter?

[chibears55]

Nico with the what are you swinging at basehit..lol

[profisme]

Good job Nico

[Bobson Dugnutt]

I was about to be so annoyed with Nico for swinging at that.

[Jason Ross]

I mentioned this on the pod today, but 2025 Hoerner is essentially what the White Sox hoped they had drafted (and the Cubs had hoped when they traded for) Nick Madrigal. 

Zero home runs. Low strikeouts. Low walks. Lots of hits. 

Strangely enough, both were Pac-10 players and both in the same draft. 

[DYMNO]

C’mon, Shaw. Blow it open.

[chibears55]

1 minute ago, Derwood said:

Who needs homeruns when you're basically a softball slap hitter?

This is what he needs to be doing with this lineup, no need for him to try and launch one, just get on any way you can.

[UMFan83]

Just now, Jason Ross said:

I mentioned this on the pod today, but 2025 Hoerner is essentially what the White Sox hoped they had drafted (and the Cubs had hoped when they traded for) Nick Madrigal. 

Zero home runs. Low strikeouts. Low walks. Lots of hits. 

Strangely enough, both were Pac-10 players and both in the same draft. 

This is why I was so up in arms about the rumored trades for Nico in the offseason. I’m sure there’s an offer that I’d be ok trading Nico at but the dude is a value adding machine and signed to a solid contract. 

[UMFan83]

Damn so close to 3 more runs there

[profisme]

Great approach by Shaw. Bad luck. 

[WhyCantWeWin]

Thought that was gonna be a dong

[JHBulls]

Lile didn’t read the script that he plays for the Nats and that should have come off his head for a HR. 😞

[Derwood]

At some point pitchers are going to figure out that Shaw can shoot the ball to right at 100mph

[Jason Ross]

Just now, UMFan83 said:

This is why I was so up in arms about the rumored trades for Nico in the offseason. I’m sure there’s an offer that I’d be ok trading Nico at but the dude is a value adding machine and signed to a solid contract. 

Yeah, the Nico-trade thing was *always* a narrow landing strip. I think there were possibilities out there, but they were very few and very specific. All players, by nature, ate less likely to be traded than *to be* traded but where the Cubs were with Nico was even narrower 

Glad they kept him.

[Derwood]

Had the Cubs successfully signed Chapman or Bregman, it made sense to trade Nico for pitching and play Shaw at 2B

[DYMNO]

What’s the book on Shaw’s HR potential? 20-ish per year?

[JHBulls]

Oh dear God, I think we are about to listen to 25 minutes about Cooper. 

[Jason Ross]

Also, loved that inning for Cade. That's PA against CJ was perfect fastball placement. Three pitches where he needs it against a LHH. More of that. Very good.

[Jason Ross]

Just now, DYMNO said:

What’s the book on Shaw’s HR potential? 20-ish per year?

I've got him between 15-20 and maybe a season around 25. Hes capable of going 107mph the other way. Thats real power. 

Teams will eventually come in on him more where he will be able to hit more HRs. 

[CubinNY]

The Nats bullpen is so bad. 

[We Got The Whole 9]

Hoping Cade can go 7 tonight. He didn't deserve one of those ER at all.

[JBears79]

How has Cade looked tonight? I got off work and caught the last inning. See hes only around 65 pitches which I like but 3 runs? What happened there?

[Jason Ross]

1 minute ago, JBears79 said:

How has Cade looked tonight? I got off work and caught the last inning. See hes only around 65 pitches which I like but 3 runs? What happened there?

A few hits early on mediocre fastball placement. Busch booted a ball at 1b that was called a "hit" (I thought it was an error) which contributed indirectly to two runs. 

Change looks really sharp. Slider has bit. Fastball placement is improving as the game moved along.

[JBears79]

Just now, Jason Ross said:

A few hits early on mediocre fastball placement. Busch booted a ball at 1b that was called a "hit" (I thought it was an error) which contributed indirectly to two runs. 

Gotcha. So just a couple average innings? Any hard contact?